About

Known credits:
191
Birthday:
1919-03-05
Place of birth:
Kannur, Kerala, India
Website:
N/A

M. N. Nambiar

Overview

M. N. Nambiar (born Manjeri Narayanan Nambiar) was a film actor in Tamil cinema who dominated the industry in the role of villain for around 50 years. Also known as Nambiar Swami or Maha Guruswami, he was a spiritual leader who pioneered the movement of taking pilgrims to Sabarimala.

Nambiar started as a hero, Nambiar Guruswami soon started donning the role of a villain — so much so that today his name is synonymous with villainy in Kollywood. Nambiar swami has worked with seven generations of actors. His first pay was Rs.3 with Boys Company. He would retain Rs.1 and send Rs.2 to his mother. He made quite a statement in the early 50s with his portrayal of 11 roles in Digambara Samiyar, one of his films as the Lead. His arresting performance in films such as Manthiri Kumari, Velaikaari, Ayirathil Oruvan, Thillana Mohanambal, Missiyamma and Nenjam Marappadillai paved way for a very successful career that spanned over five decades.

A majority of the more than 1000 films that he has done is in Tamil, though he has acted in Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi, besides an English film `Jungle' (with Rod Cameron, the film's hero, directed by William Burke) in which he appears in a few brief scenes. The film was released in 1952. The Hindi film he acted in was a remake of the Tamil Kanavane Kankanda Deivam. After becoming popular in Tamil films he started his own drama troupe called Nambiar Nataka Mandram. They staged two plays — `Kaviyin Kanavu' and a comedy play `Kalyana Supermarket.'

Nambiar swami was that rare contradictory personality - a cruel, charming villain on the silver screen while being a very pious man in real life. He was also a pure vegetarian and teetotaler. He was also an ardent devotee of Sabarimala Sri Ayyappan. He has had a long association with the temple, and visited the shrine more than 65 times over the last half a century; this has led to him being called Maha Guruswamy. His colleagues noted that he died during the famous Sabarimala season and it may be due to the blessing of his Lord.

Known for

Acting
2007 Kuttrapathirikai Actor N/A
N/A
2006 Sudesi Actor 59
Average
2003 Winner Actor Velayutham 58
Average
2003 Anbe Anbe Actor 59
Average
2003 Kadhal Sadugudu Actor Kausalya`s Grandfather 59
Average
2002 Baba Actor Baba's Maternal Uncle 59
Average
2002 Varushamellam Vasantham Actor N/A
N/A
2001 Sharjah to Sharjah Actor Kappithan 58
Average
2001 Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala Actor Mumtaj's father N/A
N/A
2001 Vinnukkum Mannukkum Actor Cameo 58
Average
1999 Poo Parikka Varugirom Actor N/A
N/A
1999 Rojavanam Actor 58
Average
1999 Endrendrum Kadhal Actor Sethupathi, Vijay's father 58
Average
1998 Poonthottam Actor N/A
N/A
1998 Moovendhar Actor 58
Average
1997 Adimai Changili Actor 59
Average
1997 Pasamulla Pandiyare Actor Nesamani N/A
N/A
1997 Vallal Actor N/A
N/A
1996 Poove Unakkaga Actor Sadhasivam 59
Average
1995 Thotta Chinungi Actor N/A
N/A
1995 Raasaiyya Actor 59
Average
1995 Kattumarakaran Actor Vaidehi's grandfather N/A
N/A
1995 Karuppu Nila Actor Nandhini's father N/A
N/A
1994 Periya Marudhu Actor 59
Average
1994 Sethupathi I.P.S Actor 59
Average
1994 Paasamalargal Actor N/A
N/A
1993 Gentleman Actor Ramesh's Father 59
Average
1993 Sakkarai Devan Actor N/A
N/A
1993 Thanga Pappa Actor Adaikkalam N/A
N/A
1993 Yejaman Actor Vaanavarayan's grandfather 59
Average
1993 Ezhai Jaathi Actor 58
Average
1992 Villu Pattukaran Actor 59
Average
1992 Kaaviya Thalaivan Actor Damodaran N/A
N/A
1992 Nadodi Paattukkaran Actor N/A
N/A
1992 Thanga Manasukkaran Actor Sadha Swamy N/A
N/A
1991 Maanagara Kaaval Actor IG Jayaprakash N/A
N/A
1991 Kaaval Nilayam Actor Andhavar 58
Average
1991 Captain Prabhakaran Actor Special Task Force Officer 59
Average
1991 Enga Ooru Sippai Actor N/A
N/A
1991 Kumbakarai Thangaiah Actor N/A
N/A
1990 Avasara Police 100 Actor N/A
N/A
1990 Periya Veettu Panakkaran Actor N/A
N/A
1990 Avasara Police Actor 60
Fair
1990 Neengalum Herothan Actor M. N. Nambiar N/A
N/A
1990 Jagathalaprathapan Actor John Frederick 59
Average
1990 Pulan Visaranai Actor 59
Average
1989 Meenatchi Thiruvilaiyadal Actor Thirumalai Naicker 59
Average
1989 Paandi Naattu Thangam Actor Thangapandian's father N/A
N/A
1989 Paattukku Oru Thalaivan Actor N/A
N/A
1989 Thaai Naadu Actor Saleem Bhai N/A
N/A
1988 Manaivi Oru Mandhiri Actor N/A
N/A
1988 Enga Ooru Kaavakkaaran Actor N/A
N/A
1988 Nallavan Actor N/A
N/A
1988 Thambi Thanga Kambi Actor N/A
N/A
1988 Poonthotta Kavalkaran Actor N/A
N/A
1987 Uzhavan Magan Actor 58
Average
1987 Jallikkattu Actor 59
Average
1987 Krishnan Vandhaan Actor N/A
N/A
1987 Enga Ooru Pattukaran Actor Kallampattiyan N/A
N/A
1987 Velundu Vinaiyillai Actor 59
Average
1986 Dharma Devathai Actor N/A
N/A
1986 Mella Thirandhadhu Kadhavu Actor Hindi Teacher and Noorjahan's Father 59
Average
1986 Nambinar Keduvadhillai Actor N/A
N/A
1985 Puthiya Theerppu Actor 58
Average
1985 Puthiya Theerpu Actor N/A
N/A
1985 Raja Rishi Actor Sage Vashishta N/A
N/A
1985 Eetti Actor N/A
N/A
1985 Nermai Actor N/A
N/A
1985 Naan Sigappu Manithan Actor Senior Police Officer 59
Average
1985 Needhiyin Nizhal Actor N/A
N/A
1984 Vamsa Vilakku Actor N/A
N/A
1984 Iru Medhaigal Actor N/A
N/A
1984 Ezhudhaadha Sattangal Actor N/A
N/A
1984 Simma Soppanam Actor N/A
N/A
1984 Sarithira Nayagan Actor N/A
N/A
1984 Vaazhkai Actor 59
Average
1984 Tharaasu Actor N/A
N/A
1984 Vetri Actor N/A
N/A
1984 Naan Mahaan Alla Actor GMK 58
Average
1983 Miruthanga Chakravarthi Actor N/A
N/A
1983 Saatchi Actor 59
Average
1983 Sandhippu Actor N/A
N/A
1983 Dowry Kalyanam Actor Rowther N/A
N/A
1983 Thai Veedu Actor 59
Average
1982 Thai Mookambhikai Actor N/A
N/A
1982 Sangili Actor N/A
N/A
1982 Thooral Ninnu Pochu Actor Vathiyaar N/A
N/A
1982 Parvaiyin Marupakkam Actor 58
Average
1982 Oorukku Oru Pillai Actor N/A
N/A
1981 Thadavara Actor Madhavan N/A
N/A
1981 Garjanai Actor N/A
N/A
1981 Lorry Driver Rajakannu Actor N/A
N/A
1981 Ram Lakshman Actor 59
Average
1981 Kolilakkam Actor N/A
N/A
1981 Deiva Thirumanangal Actor N/A
N/A
1980 Saranam Ayyappa Actor N/A
N/A
1980 Sakthi Actor Vikraman N/A
N/A
1980 Guru Actor Head of anti-social group 59
Average
1980 Ratha Paasam Actor N/A
N/A
1979 Vetrikku Oruvan Actor N/A
N/A
1979 Aavesham Actor Shekaran N/A
N/A
1979 Thirisoolam Actor 59
Average
1979 Neeya? Actor Appu Kuttan 59
Average
1978 En Kelvikku Enna Bathil Actor 59
Average
1978 Punniya Boomi Actor N/A
N/A
1978 Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan Actor The Prince Raja Rajan N/A
N/A
1977 Meenava Nanban Actor Arun N/A
N/A
1977 Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga Actor Guruviah 59
Average
1977 Navarathinam Actor Dharmaseelan N/A
N/A
1976 Sathyam Actor N/A
N/A
1975 Naalai Namadhe Actor N/A
N/A
1975 Ninaithadhai Mudippavan Actor Mohan 58
Average
1974 Sirithu Vazha Vendum Actor 59
Average
1974 Urimai Kural Actor Doreswamy 59
Average
1974 Netru Indru Naalai Actor Rathnam (the false) N/A
N/A
1973 Rajapart Rangadurai Actor Somasundaram 59
Average
1973 Errakota Veerudu Actor 59
Average
1973 Ulagam Sutrum Valiban Actor 58
Average
1973 Rajaraja Cholan Actor Bala Thevar 59
Average
1972 Idhaya Veenai Actor N/A
N/A
1972 Raman Thediya Seethai Actor N/A
N/A
1971 Adi Parasakthi Actor N/A
N/A
1971 Savale Samali Actor Rajavelu 59
Average
1970 En Annan Actor Nayagam 59
Average
1969 Sivandha Mann Actor Diwan, the main antagonist 59
Average
1969 Deiva Magan Actor Ananth 59
Average
1969 Anjal Petti 520 Actor Nagarajan 58
Average
1969 Kanne Pappa Actor Inspector James N/A
N/A
1969 Kaaval Dheivam Actor N/A
N/A
1969 Nil Gavani Kadhali Actor Gang Leader N/A
N/A
1968 Lakshmi Kalyanam Actor N/A
N/A
1968 Harichandra Actor N/A
N/A
1968 Enga Oor Raja Actor N/A
N/A
1968 Thillana Mohanambal Actor Maharaja of Madhanpur 59
Average
1968 Pudhiya Boomi Actor 59
Average
1968 Kudiyirundha Koyil Actor 59
Average
1968 Ragasiya Police 115 Actor 59
Average
1967 Kaavalkaaran Actor Marudachalam 59
Average
1967 Arasa Kattalai Actor 59
Average
1966 Thanippiravi Actor Sub-inspector Soundharam 58
Average
1966 Thaali Bhagyam Actor Namchivayam N/A
N/A
1966 Mugaraasi Actor N/A
N/A
1966 Nadodi Actor 59
Average
1966 Naan Aanaiyittal Actor 59
Average
1965 Aasai Mugam Actor N/A
N/A
1965 Aayirathil Oruvan Actor Pirate Leader 58
Average
1965 Enga Veettu Pillai Actor Gajendran 59
Average
1964 Thaayin Madiyil Actor 59
Average
1964 Padagotti Actor 59
Average
1964 Thozhilali Actor Velu N/A
N/A
1964 Dheiva Thaai Actor Madhan N/A
N/A
1964 En Kadamai Actor 59
Average
1964 Vettaikaaran Actor 59
Average
1963 Annai Illam Actor 59
Average
1963 Nenjam Marappathillai Actor Zamindar 59
Average
1963 Kalai Arasi Actor N/A
N/A
1962 Kudumba Thalaivan Actor N/A
N/A
1962 Rani Samyuktha Actor Mohammad Ghori N/A
N/A
1961 Then Nilavu Actor Raj 59
Average
1961 Pasamalar Actor Rathnam 59
Average
1961 Thirudadhe Actor 59
Average
1960 Arasilangumari Actor N/A
N/A
1960 Ellorum Innattu Mannar Actor N/A
N/A
1959 Bhaaga Pirivinai Actor 59
Average
1959 Pelli Naati Pramanalu Actor N/A
N/A
1959 Kalyana Parisu Actor 58
Average
1959 Thangapadumai Actor N/A
N/A
1958 Nadodi Mannan Actor 59
Average
1958 Illarame Nallaram Actor N/A
N/A
1958 Annaiyin Aanai Actor N/A
N/A
1958 Uthama Puthiran Actor Naganathan 59
Average
1958 Bhuloka Rambhai Actor N/A
N/A
1957 Ambikapathy Actor N/A
N/A
1957 Thangamalai Ragasiyam Actor 59
Average
1957 Karpukarasi Actor N/A
N/A
1957 Rajarajan Actor 59
Average
1957 Vanangaamudi Actor N/A
N/A
1957 Makkalai Petra Magarasi Actor Kannan N/A
N/A
1956 Amara Deepam Actor N/A
N/A
1955 Kanavane Kan Kanda Deivam Actor N/A
N/A
1953 Naam Actor N/A
N/A
1952 The Jungle Actor Mahaji 59
Average
1952 Andhaman Kaidhi Actor N/A
N/A
1951 Sarvadhikari Actor N/A
N/A
1951 Marmayogi Actor N/A
N/A
1950 Thigambara Samiar Actor Chokkalingam Pillai N/A
N/A
1950 Manthiri Kumari Actor Royal Priest N/A
N/A
1950 Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi Actor N/A
N/A
1948 Mohini Actor N/A
N/A
1947 Raja Kumari Actor N/A
N/A
Indru Pol Endrum Vazhga Actor N/A
N/A